Survival Novel Essay• Claim: An author’s life directly influences his/her writing.• Task: Support this claim with three similarities between

novel and author.• Events: Both Mikaelson and Cole had a relationship with a bear.• Character traits: Both Mikaelson and Cole enjoyed the outdoors.• Themes: Both Mikaelson and Cole learned the value of life.

• Research• Research using links from class website and from library website• Use index cards for research

• Front: take notes of information that supports the claim or could be used for intro/conclusion

• Back: copy down citations from citationmachine.net • Write down citations WHILE RESEARCHING• Cite both a biography and the novel; use quotes if possible

Introductory Paragraph• INTRODUCE the topic; it needs to be related.

• Talk about the author: Who is he? What does he write?• Talk about the novel: What is it about?

• Last sentence of the introduction should be the thesis:• An author’s life directly influences his writing.• There are several similarities between (Author’s Name) and his

novel (name of novel), such as (first supporting point), (second supporting point), (third supporting point).

• There are several similarities between Ben Mikaelson and his novel Touching Spirit Bear, such as the presence of bears, their changing attitude towards nature, and their love of the outdoors.

Supporting Paragraphs• Open with a transition and general topic sentence:

• The first similarity between Ben Mikaelson and his story about Cole Matthews is the involvement of bears.

• State your evidence from the novel:• In Touching Spirit Bear, Cole Matthews interacts with the mystical spirit bear.

• Explain the evidence or give more details:• When they first meet, spirit bear nearly destroys the young boy. By the end,

however, they have a close connection.• State your evidence from the author’s life:

• Similarly, Ben Mikaelson has a connection with his own black bear, Buffy.• Explain the evidence or give more details:

• Their relationship began when Mikaelson and his wife adopted the cub from a shelter.

• Sum up the paragraph:• A friendship with a bear shows one way that Ben Mikaelson and Cole Matthews are

similar.

Sample Supporting ParagraphThe first similarity between Ben Mikaelson and his

story about Cole Matthews is the involvement of bears. In Touching Spirit Bear, Cole Matthews interacts with the mystical spirit bear. When they first meet, spirit bear nearly destroys the young boy. By the end, however, they have a close connection. Similarly, Ben Mikaelson has a connection with his own black bear, Buffy. Their relationship began when Mikaelson and his wife adopted the cub from a shelter. A friendship with a bear shows one way that Ben Mikaelson and Cole Matthews are similar.

Concluding Paragraph• Recap what you’ve said and restate your thesis!• Say something new

• Needs to flow from the topic• Give an important detail• Connect it to life